Mount Washington c. 1869 - 1870

Editor: This is Charles Herbert's "Mount Washington," a drawing at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels very serene and pastoral. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Herbert’s depiction invites us to consider whose perspective is centered. Landscape paintings historically promoted ideas of manifest destiny, displacing Indigenous narratives. How do we reconcile the beauty with this complex history? Editor: So, seeing this beautiful scene also requires us to consider the political context of its creation? Curator: Precisely. Understanding the history allows us to critically engage with this artwork, recognizing both its aesthetic qualities and its potential complicity in broader social and political structures. Editor: That adds a whole new layer to how I see landscape art now. Thanks. Curator: It's crucial to remember that art never exists in a vacuum.